Good Design for the Dogs

Sick of Fido's unsightly dog bed cramping your style? Time to check out Etsy shop Pawsitively Modern!  They have created a dog bed that even Frank Lloyd Wright would approve of.

Doesn't that look like a happy dog?!  Classic elements like the cantilevered roof and hair pin legs make this more then your average dog bed

Furniture by Olivier Dolle

There has been a lot of talk about this designer and now I see why... All the buzz is about his branch bookcase, but I can't get enough of his other pieces!

Here is the much talked about branch bookshelf - beautiful, organic and unexpected.

Here we see the branch motif again reinterpreted into the leg of a desk - I love the way he angled the "trunk" leg of the table out just slightly

A strong masculine sofa with a hint of organic line

Arm chair - the angle on the legs make this such a dynamic piece

Buffet - this is by far my favorite piece!  Great classic lines and form, the white blocks give it a stunning unexpected edge

All images taken from the Olivier Dolle website

Daily Design Inspiration

Custom bookshelf by French Designer Olivier Dolle

Image taken from Olivier Dolle's website

Good Design

European design company Hulgar, spent a major part of the early 2000's putting out a well designed version of the clunky home phone handset so popular in the 80's and 90's compatible with your computer for Skype or your cell phone for retro hands free talking.  Now Hulgar has moved on to compact fluorescent lamps, and these aren't your typical soft serve swirl design.  The Plumen is making a big splash in the world of light bulbs and is so beautiful that it was inducted into the permanent design collection at the MoMA in New York.

These bulbs definitely do not need a shade!  The Plumen is not yet available for the U.S. market, but I am guessing with the induction into the MoMA design collection they will be very soon.  

Celtic Knot

Merging the deep rooted culture or Ireland with a modern lounge piece designer Alexandria Peters created the Knot Lounge.  This piece was part of a design collaboration between Pratt and Herman Miller on culture.

Appree

This company out of Seoul, Korea has done a fantastic job of capturing nature in their office supply designs!

Inspiration - water droplets on a leaf

Product - Waterdrop Magnet

Inspiration - Leaves

Product - Leaf-it Ginkgo, a post-it style note

Product - Leaf-it Summer and Autumn, post-it style notes

Inspiration - Deer standing in the forest

Product - Forest Bookends

What great design!  I love the idea of the leaf post-it notes - they would add a certain zen quality to my daily tasks.  That Forest bookend is so great, I love how they played with the foreground/background and layered the 2D objects to give it a 3D feel.  Appree products aren't sold in many places in the US currently, but just from through their press page I can tell they are gaining steam among design addicts.  I hope to see them here soon!  

Natural Lighting

No, I'm not talking about sunlight.  These wooden light pendants from Italian company Fermetti are where its at!

This set would look great over a dining room table, a kitchen island or hanging next to your reading chair in the living room.

Tufted Pigs

Apparently I have a thing for farm animals.  I can't get over how great these tufted pigs are from female German design team Fehling & Peiz - part art installation, part furniture.

I would take these little pigs home from the market any day! 

Are You on Trend?

Here's whats hot in the world of paint:

Lime Green

Lemon Yellow

Fuchsia

These bold colors are being seen a lot as accent walls,

incorporated in accessories and finishes with neutral surroundings.

Deep Teal

I am seeing quite a bit of the stately heritage home colors, especially in the teal/blue family.  Go bold with this one - it's on wall's and its setting the tone in a big way for everything else in your home.

Fern Green

DO NOT for one second confuse this with sage or avocado green!  This green is soft, organic and beautifully muted.  Paired with a creamy color palette.

Bohemian Brown

Sand

Gray

And of course the neutrals.  If you are looking to go neutral this year think boho browns (brown with a gray undertone) and GRAY!  Its really everywhere... If I had to pick a trend color gray would be it.  It can be everything from soothing and soft, bold and in your face, austere or the perfect backdrop to those eclectic furnishings you have been trying to find the right color for. 

If you are going with sand beware - the softer and more subtle the better.  You don't want it confused with blase beige.

Plum

As far as color goes, this is the color this year.  Its everywhere!  If you are looking to freshen up your decor and bring it up to trend add a little plum.  Its relaxing and inviting, traditional or bohemian, even cutting edge.  It's been seen this year in every hue - bold to barely there.  I have been seeing this color in practically every design blog and furniture showroom I've been to, so keep it in the front of your mind when your getting ready to spruce up this spring.

Meghan Elizabeth Pottery

Want something bold and graphic to freshen up your decor?  Meghan Elizabeth Pottery is a great place to start - she is a potter from Stillwater, MN who is breathing new life into the world of handmade pottery with her fun graphic plates, tiles and bowls. 

Dinner Plate - 3C

Bowl - Franklin Avenue Street Sign

Ring Box - No Parking

Bud Vase - Man

I just love the fun graphics with an urban feel to them.  She has lots of other great items that can be found on her etsy page. 

DIY Time!

And just in time for the weekend!  I love this DIY from Martha Stewart Living.  Being an avid gardener I miss my plants during our 5 months of winter (which feels like 12 by the way).  How great would it be to have a little herb garden in the kitchen window all year long?!

This is a great option to add something living to your space and a touch of color with pots that could be changed through out the seasons.  I like the look she has styled above - monochromatic pots and crates in a variety of sizes.  You have really outdone yourself Martha.  The original article can be found here.

Pamplemousse

This amazing home in Southampton, NY was done by Pamplemousse Design Inc.

The sheep just put it right over the top, don't they?

The unexpected touches are great, like the zebra rug in the dining area and the super modern light fixture in the sitting room and the bold yellow lamp.

I cannot get enough of these kids rooms!  So fun and young.  I really like when the kids room isn't full of kids furniture.  They don't need to be talked down to when it comes to design.

Everything about these rooms are so fresh.  I really like the use of the neutral palette as the back drop and bringing in pops of color - this makes it easy and relatively inexpensive to change the look of an entire space!